On the Bookshelf

Written by Erika Castiglione

Every year around this time I like to remind everyone that we have a Waypoint “library” (two bookcases located to the left of the back entrance, between the prayer room and the restrooms). We are always adding to our collection that ranges from practical theology to poetry, and we encourage you to make use of this resource. Here are a few of our new selections that I recommend as you consider your summer reading:

The Six Conversations: Pathways to Connecting in an Age of Isolation and Incivility by Heather Holleman

Our mission’s director, James Shafto, referenced this book when he and Danny preached on service and evangelism during our Spiritual Formation series. Dr. Heather Holleman, who teaches writing at Penn State and serves with Faculty Commons in the professor ministry of Cru, has written this book to help others foster meaningful connections through “changing our relational mindsets to become more curious, believe the best in others, to express concern about their lives, and to share our own.” 

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

A lovely and engaging novel about a mysterious stranger who shows up in a small town and changes lives by his anonymous acts of kindness. 

A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson

During Lent many of us participated in a Bible study that used an abridged version of this Christian classic as a guide, but the whole book is worth reading. Peterson uses the Songs of Ascents to guide us as modern pilgrims learning to live lives of worship.  

Uncommon Ground: Living Faithfully in a World of Difference by Timothy Keller and John Inazu

A series of essays from Christians leaders, artists, and authors (edited by Timothy Keller and John Inazu) about how to live faithfully in a pluralistic, fractured world. 

Spiritual Lessons from Parenting

Written by Paul Scruggs

My life drastically changed on August 9, 2022.  This was the date of the birth of

Caroline’s and my oldest son Lincoln.  A year and a half later, we were blessed with the

birth of Marshall as well.  My life and my walk of faith can be divided into pre-August

2022 and post-August 2022.  The phrase sacrificial love took on new meaning as we

have experienced the pride, joy, sleeplessness, and exhaustion that comes with caring

for two small children.

Waypoint has been a blessing to our family in many ways.  I’ve grown spiritually through

sermons, Waypoint Academy, and involvement in our Community Group.  We feel very

fortunate to have the support of a church family as we navigate parenthood.  Parenting-

related discussions in our Community Group have touched on everything from how to

respond to toddler tantrums, methods of teaching children how to pray, morning routines

for children, and how intentionally or not we should push potty training.  Waypoint Kids

has also provided us with a feeling of connection for both us and our boys with Christian

community.

I have to admit that I never changed a diaper until the day Lincoln was born.  To say that

I was (and still am) terrified about many things involving parenting is an understatement.

Learning how to change diapers was on that list of fears.  In a previous blog post, Erika

recommended Every Moment Holy by Douglas McKelvey. In that book I came across “A

Liturgy for Changing Diapers I.”  The part of that prayer that stood out to me most:

I am not just changing a diaper. 

By love and service 

I am tending a budding heart that, 

rooted early in such grace-filled devotion, 

might one day be more readily-inclined

to bow to your compassionate conviction— 

knowing itself then as both a receptacle 

and a reservoir of heavenly grace. 

So this little act of diapering— 

though in form sometimes felt 

as base drudgery—might be 

better described as one of ten thousand acts 

by which I am actively creating a culture of 

compassionate service and selfless love to shape 

the life of this family and this beloved child. *

This simple but profound liturgy serves as a daily reminder that mundane tasks can

show Christ’s love and the Gospel to others.  I’ve struggled in my walk with Christ with

the command of Jesus in Matthew 19:21 to give up everything and follow Him.  This

liturgy reminds me that doing things that seem to be simple and ordinary tasks or small

acts of service (by the way - diapers no longer scare me) provide a means of building

connection with others and create an attitude of Christian love.  The struggle for me now

is to look upon opportunities to assist a coworker with a needed task, a fellow coach

with meet-management duties, or any of the myriad of examples that present

themselves in the course of a week to assist a stranger with a similar diaper-type

opportunity to exude love.

An additional way that becoming a parent has caused me to grow in my walk is the

handling of bedtime routines.  The stillness (some nights) of bedtime that ends with

Lincoln singing “Jesus Loves Me” and “Go Tell it on the Mountain” along with me (thank

you Waypoint Kids Christmas program!) is often a much-needed mental and spiritual

reset after long and busy days when I’ve often concerned myself more about trifling

things of this world than I should.  These nighttime blessings have been part of my

growth in faith as well and serve as a gentle reminder that it is ok to escape the

busyness of daily life to reflect, have moments of quiet praise, and listen to God.   

I wish that I had put more thought and effort into simple acts of service to others and

quiet reflection before I was a parent, as these are things which anyone can use in their

life. Our children have certainly been a vehicle through which God has reminded me

that at times we can serve Him best in doing simple things for others and that we all

need to be still and listen to Him.  I hope that we can all take these reminders to heart

and put into our daily walk.  Attempting to guide our boys in a chaotic world and do our

best to provide physical, material, and spiritual guidance and safety for them also forces

me to reflect on gratitude.  The hundreds of acts of service that my wife does daily to

keep our home running smoothly, the love that my own parents show me, and the many

times co-workers, coaching peers, team parents, and perfect strangers have helped me

along the way are things I can never repay.  Most of all, it reminds me of our Savior who

has done more for me than I could ever imagine before I was even formed and the

grace that He provides me.  Just as I of course do not expect my sons to ever repay me

for changing dirty diapers; that example pales in comparison to the matchless grace that

He has given all of us.

*McKelvey, Douglas. *Every Moment Holy Volume I*. The Rabbit Room, 2017

On the 1700 th Anniversary of The Nicene Creed

Written by Danny Castiglione

“After the Bible, the Nicene Creed may be the most important Christian text ever written. Since the fourth century, the Nicene Creed has served as the most influential, most ecumenical, and arguably most widely used statement of faith in the history of the church…The Nicene Creed doesn’t merely merit the label “orthodox”; it summarizes and defines orthodoxy itself.”

This statement is from the introduction to a recent book about the Nicene Creed from American pastor and theologian, Keving DeYoung. If what he says is true, “the Nicene Creed may be the most important Christian text ever written,” then this historic creed should be a significant part of our faith as Christians. If you go on our website or attend the Explore Waypoint class you will see when we define “What We Believe” we start by saying, “we affirm and believe Apostle’s and Nicene Creeds.”

What is the Nicene Creed?

On June 19, 325, 1700 years ago, the first ever large gathering of Christian leaders from 3 continents met to establish and confirm the “Creed of Nicaea.” It provided the core theological ideas that would be further developed and solidified in the statement of faith that we call the Nicene Creed (381). 

You can read more of the historical and theological foundations of the Nicene Creed in other places. For us, on the 17 hundredth anniversary of the Spirit guiding the Church to create the Nicene Creed, I challenge you to read, reflect, and meditate on the beautiful and profound doctrinal truths found on each line. Here is the full text:

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation

he came down from heaven:

by the power of the Holy Spirit

he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.